PERRYFIELDS HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS PROCESS 2019 GCSE 2019

PERRYFIELDS HIGH SCHOOL OPTIONS PROCESS 2019 GCSE 2019 -21 Preparing for a world that is changing fast!

GCSEs – The Tip of the Iceberg GCSE Exams Year 10 and 11 Options Reception- Year 9

Purpose of today • Information about the whole curriculum offer • The process after tonight and how we can support • Advice

Piecing together the Jigsaw Post 16 Colleges Employers Universities Parents Perryfields High School Students Curriculum Teachers Curriculum and Examination changes Happiness and security

Why is this process important? • You will have to remain in Education or training until you are 18 and achieve a minimum of a grade 4 in English and Maths • On average, adults are now 22 -23 years old before they embark upon a career (hopefully not a job!!) • The employment market is changing rapidly and the jobs of the future aren’t even jobs yet • You will probably change career 2 -3 times and have 10 -14 jobs by the age of 38 and will probably be over 70 before retirement! • The days of a lifelong career with one company or within one industry have gone!

Why is this process important? • Employers are also seeking skills as well as qualifications • Basic Literacy and Numeracy skills • ICT capability • An ability to work as part of a team • Ability to work independently • Problem solving capabilities • An ability to switch strategies as circumstances change (think on your feet!)

What has the Government changed? • All GCSEs are now ‘linear’ in structure, meaning all examinations are taken at the end of the course • There will be extra marks available for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPa. G) for GCSE’s in English Literature, Geography, History and R. S. • They are encouraging young people to study more traditional subjects in the ‘Ebacc’ (more later) measure, but this is not compulsory • English and maths have to continue to be studied if a grade 4 or above is not achieved at the end of year 11

What has the Government changed? • How they measure young people Old GCSE Grades New GCSE Grades A* A B C+ C/CD/E+ E/E-/F+ F/F-/G 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Technical Qualification Grades L 2 D* L 2 D L 2 M L 2 P L 1 D L 1 M L 1 P

What has the Government changed? • How they measure schools • The 4 standards by which schools are now judged • are: • Pupil Progress across their best 8 subjects. • The average grade the pupil obtains across their best 8 subjects. • The percentage of pupils achieving a grade 5 or better in English and Maths • The proportion of pupils who can claim the English • Baccalaureate Certificate

What is the English Baccalaureate? • Not a stand alone qualification • It is a measure the government use to judge schools • It is a collection of 5 subjects out of – English, Maths, Science, Computer Science, History, Geography, French, Spanish (or any other approved MFL course) • But most of this is for the school to consider, not you. You will never be asked by an employer “what was your progress 8 score? ” or “Did you cover the Ebacc? ”. They are only interested in individual grades of subjects

Achieving Potential • Exams work well for some pupils but not for others, who can find them daunting. Unfortunately, you will not be able to avoid exams – ALL courses have some form of external exam, but in different proportions • Some courses involve more continually assessed work - e. g. the Technical Qualifications, GCSE Art, GCSE Music • Vocational qualifications are equivalent to GCSEs (see previous table) • For young people, a mix between GCSE and Technical Qualifications would make a good choice because of the variety of assessment

Technical Qualifications • Technical Qualifications are vocational courses and give • • • students knowledge, understanding and skills necessary for employment in various sectors Students gather evidence in a variety of ways not just in written form e. g. video clips, projects, presentations, databases etc Clear guidelines and guidance are given by the teacher as to what is needed to achieve Deadlines are set that have to be met There is also an external exam in each Technical Qualification that must be passed in order to pass the course (usually worth one third of the total) Progress is monitored by teachers who provide feedback and support

How will you choose your options? • We use a ‘pathway’ model that values your differing needs and is used as a guide for you to choose a collection of subjects that will best suit you • We have used your most recent English “Working At Grades” (WAG) to identify which pathway would suit you best and allow you to achieve your potential and succeed • The English WAG has been used because of the increased importance of reading comprehension in exams

WAGs • Progress Target (PT) – This is a target that will be set as the minimum expectation for each subject based on your KS 2 results. This target will be reviewed regularly to apply the most recent DFE measures. This will be reported as a whole grade. • Working at Grade (WAG) – This is the grade that you are currently working at based on your current performance in assessments, classwork and homework. This is given as a fine grade with a “+, = or –“. From this a Forecast grade will be generated for the end of Year 11. From this we will be able to determine how much progress you are making towards achieving or exceeding your Progress Target or where extra support is required to get you back on track if you are below.

Extension Pathway • Pupils with a WAG of 4 or above in the most recent English Assessment • These pupils will study the compulsory curriculum and will have four option choices: one from History or Geography, one from French or Spanish and two open choices from a range of GCSE subjects.

Core Pathway • Pupils with a current WAG of 3 in the most recent English Assessment • These pupils will study the compulsory curriculum and four option choices • One from Geography, History, French or Spanish, one ICT option - both GCSE or Technical Qualifications are available - and two open option choices from a range of GCSE and Technical Qualifications

Support Pathway • Pupils with a Forecast Grade of 3 or below in English Language • These pupils will study the compulsory curriculum and will have 3 option choices and a Study Support program • One of their choices will be from a range of Technical ICT qualifications and the other two from a range of Technical or GCSE subjects

Pathways • We have set these pathways using both internal and external data • However, we do appreciate that some pupils are on the borderline of being entered for a different pathway • If you have a forecast grade of a 5 in English, we can have a discussion about being entered onto the extension pathway • If you are on the core pathway but feel that you would benefit from further support, a discussion can be arranged • If you would like to arrange a further discussion, please do not hesitate to contact either Mr. Newman, Mr. Gibson or Mr. Thompson.

Options Form

Options Form

Core Curriculum Offer Subjects over which there is NO Choice You will take as part of your CORE Will I gain a GCSE Equivalent grade if I curriculum the following subjects PASS English Yes 1 Grade (9 -1 grades) English Literature Yes 1 Grade (9 -1 grades) Mathematics Yes 1 Grade (9 -1 grades) Science Trilogy Yes 2 Grades (9 -1 grades) Physical Education Inc. Dance 1 grade BTEC TECH AWARD in Dance if taken in core PE as a choice PHSE – as part of PDM N/a Religious Studies N/a

Science • Most students study Combined Science (Trilogy) worth 2 GCSEs • Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) is available to our identified ‘most able’ scientists • This takes up one of the 4 options and so would replace the 4 thchoice subject • At least two 6 s in Combined or Triple Science enables studying A levels in Science and a degree in a Science discipline

Core Curriculum Plus Students will be required to choose from the following depending on their pathway: Extension One from each Core One from each 1. Geography or History 1. Geography, History, 2. French or Spanish 2. An ICT option or Computer Science Support Number 1 is compulsory and one from number 2 1. Study Support 2. TECH ICT

Further Options Choices • Two further subjects to be chosen • Some of these will be a choice from Ebacc subjects and some will be a free choice from the range on offer • Central to the process is recognising students strengths • Wide range of subjects offered both vocational and more traditionally academic – 22 in total • We will need sufficient pupil numbers for each course to run in September, whether it is GCSE or BTEC

Good reasons to choose a subject • You should choose a subject that… • You can do well in • You enjoy • Reflects your interests and personal qualities • Helps you learn in the best way for you • Helps keep your options open for your future

Bad reasons to choose a subject • Don’t choose subjects just because… • Your best friend is doing it • You like the teacher • If you haven’t done any research on the subject

Sources of Information • Options booklet • Subject presentations • Careers Advice • Subject Staff • Head of Year, Form Tutor & Inclusion Staff • Individual Interviews if appropriate • Other Students • Parents & Family

www. micareersguidance. co. uk Subjects and Related Careers • Most jobs do not require specific GCSE subjects • You may change your mind about jobs in future • For a few jobs, however, you will need specific subjects, for example: ØArt and design based jobs ØEngineering and technology ØLanguage based jobs ØPractical jobs ØScientific jobs

www. micareersguidance. co. uk Subjects and Related Careers • English: Journalism, Law, Politics, Media, Social Work, Teaching, etc……… • Maths: Accountancy, Business, Construction, Computer Programming, Engineering, Finance, Science careers, Teaching, etc… • Science: Construction, Engineering, Environmental work, Health, Technology, Other science careers (eg. Psychology, Veterinary work, Astronomy) • Religious Studies: Can help in careers such as Social Work, Social Care, Nursing, Counselling, Youth Work, Community Work, Law or Politics

www. micareersguidance. co. uk Subjects and Related Careers • Geography: Travel & Tourism, Environmental Work, Transport • • & Logistics, Landscape Architecture Planning (town & country), Surveying, Geology, Estate Management History: Law, Politics, Journalism, Archeology, Museums, Heritage, Costume Design, Conservation Languages: Translation & Interpretation, Travel & Tourism, Teaching, Sales & Exports, Legal & Financial areas, Journalism ICT: Useful for all jobs, Engineering, Computer Science, Games Design, Media, Marketing, Administration etc… Art & Design: Design work in Publishing, Computer Games, Clothes/Textiles, Websites, Teaching, Film, Theatre or Arts, Exhibition/Retail Displays

www. micareersguidance. co. uk Subjects and Related Careers • Business: Starting point for entry to different business areas including manufacturing, banking, retail, hotels & restaurants, public services. Careers include management, marketing, sales, human resources, law, administration • Product Design Technology: Construction, Manufacturing, Engineering, Motor Mechanics, ICT careers, Fashion industry, catering, chef, hospitality • Sport: Teaching, Leisure Centres/Gyms, Coaching, Outdoor work, Armed Forces, Sports Science

Apprenticeships • Between one and four years to complete depending on the level of Apprenticeship, the apprentices’ ability and the industry sector • From April 2019 the minimum salary is £ 3. 90 per hour; however, many apprentices earn significantly more • Different Apprenticeships have different entry requirements. However the most important requirements are that: • You must be aged 16 or over and usually have at least grade 4 in English and Maths • They are very competitive • Apprenticeships – Search the internet and go to colleges/employers

Colleges and University • Local colleges • Halesowen Stourbridge King Edwards • Open Days and Evenings – look on their websites and we will keep you informed. May be worth going this year as well as next • Think also beyond 18. . .

If university is post 18. . . • The Russell Group, 24 of the leading UK universities, have • • • identified several ‘facilitating subjects’ which they see as preferred preparation for university courses Mathematics and Further Mathematics English Literature Physics Biology Chemistry Geography History Languages (Classical and Modern) Visit http: //www. russellgroup. ac. uk to find out more. To begin to get an understanding of university offers for different courses visit http: //university. which. co. uk

Careers advice and additional support • See Mrs. Shaw in the library • Talk to your form tutor, PAL and other teachers • Use the internet • www. micareersguidance. co. uk • www. icould. com • www. plotr. com • www. nationalcareersservice. direct. gov. uk

Timetable of events for Pupils and Parents Monday 21 st January Pupil Options Talk. They receive forms which they will need to complete. Monday 21 st January Options Evening for parents – the option choices and the process is explained. Thursday 24 th January Year 9 Parent Consultation Evening – meeting with subject teachers to discuss progress and potential courses. Friday 15 th February Final return of option forms to FORM TUTORS who will check accuracy and forward to Mr Newman 25 th February - 7 th June Student options interviews will be completed. Any clashes or concerns will be dealt with first and you will be informed Some students may have more than one interview Week Beginning 8 th July Options confirmed to parents in writing